Rating: 
Summary: The worst Season of The X-Files Ever
Review: The Eighth Season's stories were bad, but the final 5 episodes were the only Good ones. But Scully would always be a serious and rational scientist. She never had an open mind and she will never really have one. Only Mulder had one. Agents Doggett and Scully, were not really a good matchup. It would have been good if Robert Patrick had only been on for a couple of episodes, but after Season Seven the show went Down hill. But as a big X-Files fan, there have been better seasons than this. Season Nine was more Respectable than this. It seems that Chris Carter kind of lost it and the writers couldn't create good stories without Mulder, because Mulder was always and still is the driving person of the x-Files, if Mulder was killed the X-Files would be gone completely. Agents Mulder and Scully were a better match up. Even though Kersh had said that having Doggett on the X-Files rather than Mulder was a better thing. But real true X-Files fans would not agree that Doggett was better than Mulder and that Doggett and Scully were a better match up, than Mulder and Scully.
Rating: 
Summary: The Beginning of the End
Review: The one thing that becomes immediately apparent in Season 8 is that the absence of David Duchovny has taken the heart out of The X-Files. Try as they might to make the stories the center of The X-Files, the truth is out there that the center lay in the incredible chemistry between Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny & Gillian Anderson). The characters of Doggett and Reyes serve here as a painful reminder of what has been lost when Duchovny left. To compound the tragedy, when Mulder returns for the last episodes he does so as a marginal character intended to bolster the potential future of a Doggett/Reyes centered series. More than anything, Season 8 is a sad commentary on what can happen when a show loses sight of what initially made it great.
Rating: 
Summary: The Eighth Wonder!
Review: The X-Files has been off the air for almost a year now... yet, I don't think there is anything on TV replacing its quality or stating the kind of questions this show asked during nine years.
The eighth season brought the gratest challenge for the series: David Duchovny decided to be only in ten episodes. So, without Mulder, the writers decided to create a new character: agent John Doggett. The greatest surprise of this season was not actually its mulderless side, but how surprisingly good the new character was. Robert Patrick plays John Doggett in a fantastic way: he is agressive, he believes only in what his background allows him to believe, but most importantly: he is the most loyal and devoted partner. A big leap from Mulder's dettachment (he has greater worries: a quest, a mission).
In spite of the odd chronological development of the season (Scully's pregnancy period was 12 months!), it was great: I think it is one of my favorite ones along with the third and the fourth.
The season opener two parter (Within/Without) shows Scully and Skinner trying to find Mulder, Kersh being promoted to Deputy Director (to whom Skinner will have to answer now), and a big operation on his part, which seems to point only to Mulder as an insane man, who made himself disappear to prove that his beliefs were true. So, Kersh gives this assignement to the most inadequate agent: Doggett. Short Mulder sightings point to Kersh being right (if we hadn't seen Requiem, of course), but as this great two parter advances, we discover that it is fact the bounty Hunter destroying evidence (which could be in Scully's computer and in Gibson Prayse's DNA). We get so many great things in these two episodes! The most interesting images are those of Mulder being tortured in a spacecraft. By the end of Without Scully receives the news that she has been assigned a new partner: John Doggett... whose investigation on Mulder's disappearance is not over yet.
The season continues for several episodes steping aside from the Mulder's abduction arc. Patience is about a sort of Batman... but not the one from Gotham city, but from the most provincial enviroment... and, of course, this is an evil bat-man. It is a pretty good episode, and it has Scully trying to see the case through Mulder's perspective. Then comes one of the best standalone episodes of the series: Roadrunners is a disturbing, graphic and very well written episode, which has Scully trapped in a town populated by a cult that worships a worm-like creature. It is painfully inserted into a person's spine. Of course, Scully is considered by this cult to be the perfect host for this worm: Scully pleading for her baby's life is just disturbing. Of course, by the end, Scully learns to rely more on her new partner.
Some less fortunate episodes follow this four-in-a-row glorious ones. Invocation is interesting only because we get to see there a bit more of background on Doggett, Salvage and Surekill have nothing special to them... but these three episodes are pretty much all the lame ones of the season.
Via Negativa is one of those odd stories which ends in a dream-like fourth act, which is hunting, mesmerizing and beautifully achieved. Redrum is an episode center in a man who perceives time backwards, of course, Scully and Doggett have not much to do in this one, but it is interesting from the man's point of view (and it is one great performance). It has the viewer going to a murder, and it is like a crescendo that ends in yet another great fourth act. Badlaa seems to be just a normal episode, but it is great: a hindu with powers over perception is seeking revenge by killing people, and it runs paralell with Scully trying to perceive reality as if her eyes were not to trust: she wants to perceive through Mulder's eyes. Her tears by the end of the episode show what a great episode can come from a moster of the week story. Medusa has Doggett underground being Scully's eyes: it is a very good episode which advances with a good pace.
Then, there are Per Manum, This is not happening, Dead alive and Three Words. Four mythology episodes. The first is about Scully's pregnancy: what is in her? Is it a normal baby or an alien? The second one continues the search for Mulder. It is the return of Jeremiah Smith and Theresa Hosse. The end of this chapter is greatly made: Scully running to find Mulder death, and then going back to Smith (who is the only one capable to bring Mulder back to life) and competing with a UFO, against the which we all know she can do nothing. In Dead Alive we get to see Billy Miles again. Mulder returns by the end of this episode after a very complex set of explanations, which can only be accepted by watching the episode, and not by reading a synopsis. The last episodes of the season are very good: in Vienen we get to see the black oil; in Empedocles, Dogget's background is more deeply shown; and Alone is the final standalone of the season and it is very good: it is meant as a tribute to us, fans.
Finally, the only cliffhanger-less season finale of the series: Essence and Existence. It is Scully's moment to give birth to her child, but an army of the so-called Super soldiers seems to be after her. These are two action packed episodes that end with the most elaborate parallel actions of the series... as Scully gives birth accompanied by Monica Reyes and an "alien invasion" headed by Billy Miles, Doggett and Skinner try to avoid being killed by Knowle Rohrer and another agent-alien-replicant-supersoldier.
Here is my TOP for this season:
10. Via Negativa.
9. Dead Alive
8. Within/Without
7. Alone
6. Vienen
5. Badlaa
4. Roadrunners
3. This is not happening
2. Per Manum
1. Essence / Existence This is a very good season... it is worth to be watched and owned.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best seasons..
Review: This season totally changed a tired concept of a long running show. It added new characters and opened so many new doors to the future of the show. Gillian Anderson portrays a pregnant and emotional Scully, perfectly. Shes vulnerable and missing Mulder. We are introduced to John Doggett played by Robert Patrick whose on full time, whilst Monica Reyes played by Annabeth Gish is introduced half way as a part time character. This season returns to the horror roots, much like season one, which was much needed at this point. It has some of my all time favourite episodes such as Roadrunners, Per Manum, This is Not Happening and Existence. People complain that Mulder and Scully didnt get enough time together in this season, Mulder had cameos and needed to be centric, his abduction experiences and Scully's pregnancy wasnt discussed enough and the writers didnt make enough effort to show that Scully was still searching for Mulder in the stand alone episodes, i totally agree, but it didnt stop me enjoying this season completely which i hadn't done since season four. Its the most underrated season and should have definately ended the show with a fantastic episode and closing scene. It shouldnt have continued into an unecessery season nine which pushed the show and the two leads too far, they simply had lost interest, along with the fans. Watch this season with an open mind, ignore what disappointed fans say and see for yourself. It isnt the same without classic stand alone invesitgations by mulder and scully, but Doggett is definately a character that grows on you, working well with Gillian Anderson. You will be blown away by her acting this season. Fans fail to understand that this season beats season seven hands down. Its definately a suprise how well the x files can work without david duchovny. His absence is very well explained this season, unlike the plain awful way he's written out in season nine. Dont have high hopes for season nine after watching this classic season, it doesnt justify the show at all. What a shame it didnt end here.
Rating:
Summary: Best Season Ever
Review: Well what can I say about Season 8 of The X Files, this is definetly the best year of the nine. The big talking point of this season was obviously David Duchovny's absence for half of the episodes and the full time inclusion of the wonderful Robert Patrick as Special Agent John Doggett, Scullys new partner.
As far as the show is concerned of the 21 episodes there wasn't a bad one to be found. With Patrick's inclusion the show had very much reverted back to its horror roots and delivered a collection of the greatest stand-alones ever. "Paitence", "Roadrunners", "Invocation", "Redrum", "Badlaa" and "Medusa" are all examples of The X Files at it's terrifing best. Two stand-out episodes this year were both Doggett centric episodes, proving what an incredible asset Robert Patrick was, in "Via Negativa" Doggett and Skinner team up to investigate a series of grusome and unexpained deaths and in "The Gift" Doggett comes across a case that Mulder hid from Scully and the FBI and which may shed light on the reasons for his dissapearance. This episode also marks the return of David Duchovny. Season 8 was also the most mytholgy laden year of the nine, ranging from the search for Mulder in the incedible two-part season opener "Within/Without" to his return in "This Is Not Happening" (which happens to have the best cliffhanger ever) and "DeadAlive". Mulder's search for answers to his dissapearance in "Three Words", the unexplained death of Doggett's son in "Empedocles", the retun of the black oil in probably the most visually stunning episode ever-"Vienen" to the mysteries of Scullys pregnancy in "Per Manum" and finally her delivery in the brilliant and action packed two-part season finale "Essence/Existence". Amidst all the mytholgy episode towards the end of the season there was room for one fantastic stand-alone episode, "Alone". Written and Directed by Frank Spotnitz this is a must see for any fan. I really can't begin to say enough about season 8, it was a show very much re-energised and re-focused to doing what The X Files dose best, the acting all round was incredible, Robert Patrick and Gillian Anderson(this was her finest year) were incredible and the two work wonderfully together, and even though I wasn't missing him it was great to see David Duchovny back as Mulder and the chemistry between he and Robert Patrick is something that has to be seen to be believed. One other thing that made this season all the better was the increased inclusion of surrounding characters. A.D. Skinner played brilliantly by Mitch Pileggi had his busiest year, Krycheck was back with a bang, Deputy Director Kersh was back, last seen in season 6, The Lone Gunmen showed up now and again to lend a helping hand to the new guy and finally the introduction of Special Agent Monica Reyes who would be seen alot more in season 9.
Anyway it really dosen't matter how much I write I could never do this season justice or the work of everybody involved so buy it and experience it for yourself, I garauntee you will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Won't Go So Far...
Review: Well, I'm just chiming in to this debate. Before the DVDs I had never even seen the X files. I saw the movie, but I found it strange and hard to follow. Of course, this turned me off to the series as a whole. Before my seven month deployment, I had never even seen an episode of the X-files. A friend of mine purchased the series for me as a gift to watch on my long boat ride. And, happily, I am proud to say that I watched season one through six on pins and needles on my laptop in a small, little rack. I was so intrigued by the alien abductions and the chemistry between Mulder and Scully. Even some of the more quirky and silly episodes were good because of the M/S combination. Yet, as the seasons moved foward I could see a definite interest with directors and producers to move the series foward while maintaining to the crux of the story originated by Cris Carter. A story that couldn't move forward. But, onto season eight. Well...I just finished watching it, and well...I don't know. It was good...there were some episodes that were very good. Yet, the whole season was wooden and unfilling. Obviously, the chemistry between S/Dogget was lacking. Seriously, I thought it would have been a better idea to bring in a more radical character to oppose Scully's logic truth. It just seemed that she made the switch from logic to paranormal very suddenly and without explanation. I mean...yeah she had something to explain...and you need to watch the season to understand...yet...there wasn't enough explanation. Also, why couldn't they have made this a Scully season? Where she takes on the X files by herself to discovers the real truth? Yet, to they bring in this wooden guy, who I can never get over being the new terminator. And, to try and make the chemistry happen. Well, as I'm sure they (producers, etc) knew the chemistry never happened, and this season felt wrong. Don't get me WRONG. There were so good episodes. But, the series fillers just weren't good. They should have paid David D. serious money to continue on. But, they went ahead with the the lackluster contribution. So, my finale! There is some contribution to the X files that is worth seeing. Plus, this season sets you up with the conclusion to season seven and season nine. I haven't seen season nine yet. But, believe me, I will give you my thoughts when I see it. I decided not to add my overview to seven because generally the entire season was a true X files season. I just thought I would warn you about this season. Shannon
Rating:
Summary: Not bad...
Review: Yes, David Duchovny is gone for half of the season but the addition of John Doggett was very refreshing. It helped bring the show back to its dark roots. The episodes are reminiscent of the earlier seasons. Of course the difference lies in the absence of Fox Mulder. Gillian Anderson's performance throughout this season was stellar. She was at the top of her form. I also enjoyed the musical score, that song that came on whenever Scully's loneliness and Mulder's disappearance were the focus. "We Are Near" I think the song is called. I believe Chris Carter explained that in the extras. Anyway, there's not a single episode I can point out as low quality or just plain bad. The return of Fox Mulder was pretty dramatic but a little far-fetched, considering how it was all played out what with Mulder being dead and then coming back to life. That was weird. Otherwise...I don't think the show should've ended at Season 8 because there were still so many unanswered questions, especially regarding Mulder's fate in the FBI and with those in the Bureau who would've liked to see him and the X-Files go down. Getting to the point, buy this if you don't mind that Mulder's gone for half a season. Definitely buy it if you're an X-Files afficionado.
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